CES 2022 saw the big guns revealed a host of new video gamer-friendly TVs, with Panasonic promising next-gen gaming features and Samsung announcing its HDR10+ Gaming standard. But Vizio has come up with its own little trick, launching a gamer-friendly TV with a compatible soundbar to boot.
Vizio’s new 50-inch M-Series Quantum X 4K HDR Gaming Smart TV, as it’s called, supports 4K at 120Hz and other HDMI features, making it a great fit for consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
In addition, the M-Series Quantum X also supports a variable refresh rate of 48Hz to 240Hz, which is double the highest frame rate available on the best gaming-friendly TVs sold by the likes of Samsung, Sony, LG and others. For PC gamers, that should add up to super-smooth motion.
Vizio said the set sports a QLED display with active full array local dimming that maxes out contrast, while other game-friendly features including Dolby Vision Auto Gaming, HGiG for HDR gaming and Auto Low Latency Mode.
On the audio side, the M-Series Quantum X TV offers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X eARC passthrough, plus support for Virtual:X surround sound and Bluetooth headphones.
Gamers can choose to elevate the sound experience too with the Vizio M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 Sound Bar, which relies on the company’s motorised adaptive height speakers first found in the P-Series Elevate Soundbar, to enable immersive 3D sound effects.
Vizio has been pretty innovative. When the soundbar detects immersive gaming content, it will automatically adjust the EQ settings and rotate the outer front speakers upwards so the sound bounces off the ceiling to create a 5.1.2 channel experience.
The M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 Sound Bar comes with 11 drivers that include the two swivelling speakers plus a subwoofer that pumps out bass down to 45Hz. It also supports HDMI eARC and 4K Dolby Vision passthrough, Bluetooth and has a dedicated voice assistant input to link with other connected devices.
While Vizio hasn’t yet announced any prices for the new products, the company is known for pushing out affordable displays and sound systems. So they’re likely to be accessible, at least compared to some of the higher-end gaming TVs from more established brands.